Papers of William H. Laird, 1940-1947 [manuscript].

ArchivalResource

Laird, William H. (William Henry), 1901-. Papers of William H. Laird, 1940-1947 [manuscript].

Papers of William H. Laird, 1940-1947 [manuscript].

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/647817301

The collection consists of the correspondence of Laird with his wife and children while he was serving with the 8th Evacuation Unit. Letters trace the history of the unit from its formation in 1942 through training at Fort Benning and Camp Kilmer, and service in Morocco and Italy. Topics include life in Charlottesville, Virginia, during the war, descriptions of Casablanca, and Italy and the people, work at the hospital, and Laird's work as a chaplain. Of interest are discussions on the necessity for and promotion of nurses, the Charlottesville blood drive and controversy over the separation of blood by race of donor, Laird's trip to Palestine in August, 1945, and "foxhole" religion of the soldiers. The collection also contains photographs and postcards of Italy, photographs of the hospital and its activities and personnel; pocket diaries, 1943-45 with brief records of daily activities, and Italian road maps.

1,400 items.

University of Virginia. Library